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Vater, du glaubst es nicht, Wie's mir zum Herzen spricht, Wenn ich die Wolken seh', Oder am Strome steh', Wolkengold, Wellengrün Ziehen so leicht dahin, Weilen im Sonnenlicht, Aber bei Blumen nicht. Zögern und rasten nie, Eilen als wüßten sie Ferne und ungekannt Irgend ein schön'res Land. Ach! von Gewölk und Fluth Hat auch mein wildes Blut Heimlich geerbt den Drang, Stürmet die Welt entlang! Vaterlands Felsenthal Wird mir zu eng, zu schmal; Denn meiner Sehnsucht Traum Findet darin nicht Raum. Laßt mich! ich muss, ich muss Fordern den Scheidekuss. Vater und Mutter mein, Müsset nicht böse seyn: Hab' euch ja herzlich lieb, Aber ein wilder Trieb Jagt mich waldein waldaus, Weit von dem Vaterhaus. Sorgt nicht durch welches Land Einsam mein Weg sich wand, Monden- und Sternenschein Leuchtet auch dort hinein. Überall wölbt's Gefild' Sich den azurnen Schild, Den um die ganze Welt Schirmend der Schöpfer hält. Ach und wenn nimmermehr Ich zu euch wiederkehr', Lieben, so denkt er fand Glücklich das schön're Land.
Confirmed with Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode. Erstes Quartal des achten Jahrgangs. Auf Kosten des Herausgebers Johann Schickh. No. 36. Dinstag, den 25. März 1823, attachment after page 300.
Leitner published 1925 a revised version of this poem in his Gedichte, see below.
Text Authorship:
- by Karl Gottfried von Leitner (1800 - 1890), "Drang in die Ferne", written 1821, first published 1823 [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Johann Rufinatscha (1812 - 1893), "Drang in die Ferne" [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Drang in die Ferne", op. 71, D 770 (1823), published 1823 [ voice and piano ], attachment to Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode [sung text checked 1 time]
Another version of this text exists in the database.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Pruïja vers la llunyania", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Drang tot reizen", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , "Urge to be far away", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Désir du lointain", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 40
Word count: 165
Father, you will not believe How much it speaks to my heart When I see the clouds Or I stand by the river, The gold of the clouds, the green of the waves, They are pulled along so gently, They hang about in the sunlight But not amongst the flowers. They never hesitate or rest, They hurry on as if they were aware of A distant and unexplored Land somewhere else, a more beautiful land. Oh! From the clouds and the flowing waters My wild blood has also Secretly inherited that urge To storm through the world! My fatherland's valley enclosed by cliffs Is becoming too narrow for me, too constricted; For my dreams of longing Cannot find any space within it. Let me go! I have to, I must, Request a farewell kiss. Dear father and mother, You mustn't be angry: I really love you with all my heart Yet a savage instinct Is chasing me into the forest and beyond, Far from my paternal home. Do not worry about which land My solitary path is taking me towards, The light of the moon and the stars Will be shining even there. Everywhere is underneath that overarching Azure shield Which covers the whole world, Held by the protecting arm of the creator. And oh, if it happens that I never again Return to you, Dear ones, just tell yourself he found Happiness in that more beautiful land.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Malcolm Wren, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Karl Gottfried von Leitner (1800 - 1890), "Drang in die Ferne", written 1821, first published 1823
This text was added to the website: 2018-08-24
Line count: 40
Word count: 238